Christmas Eve

Getting all prepared for Christmas day and tonight's dinner. Looking forward to that duck tonight. Yum. Christmas cookies were baked last weekend. Caneles were made this week and a cranberry pudding cake was done today. Almost there.

This year's Christmas card. Originally taken in Paris in 2010 at the store Merci.
Like that message of Thanks.

All the best to everyone out there this holiday season. Hopefully during this bit of a break I can actually post new things and get some creating done.

Decorations outside

Well it finally stopped raining a couple of days ago and the sun was out today and it was lovely so I was able to pop out to take these finally.

Daytime

My brother made the birch reindeer

the berries are from our vine in the backyard

Already a casualty of a broken ornament. Got to have one a season.

Nightime

And there are more lights going down the length of the fence

Nice day out in the morning shopping at the market and thinking about Christmas meals. After taking these pictures tonight, I think I would like a new tripod on my Christmas list. Need a better head on the tripod - one that I can trust. I watched as my camera slowing started turning in portrait format. Not something you want for doing long exposure, although that effect could be interesting.

Chicago on my mind

Still thinking about Chicago even though it was over a week ago. Had such a great time and great food. Can't wait to go back. So here are some panoramas from the trip.

Starting to look a lot like Christmas

So today was decorating day around here. We already had some lights outside (since it was raining, pics of that will come later). Just a mini tree this year but that meant more lights for elsewhere.

This is also a way to keep playing with long exposure.